News

Open space district fatality is identified

Vehicle carrying contractors for open space district tumbles into canyon

The San Mateo County coroner's office has identified a Newark man who died in a crash Thursday near La Honda while performing weed abatement for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Luis Audelo-Partida, 26, was killed in the crash reported at 11:22 a.m. in the vicinity of Alpine and Mindego Hill roads, in a rural area of San Mateo County near the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.

Mr. Audelo-Partida was driving with other contractors who were out spraying non-native plants for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, district spokesman Gordon Baillie said.

The vehicle involved apparently was being driven in an area without a paved road and somehow went out of control and tumbled into a canyon, according to the CHP.

The CHP reported earlier that three people had died, but CHP Sgt. Matt Otterby said there is only one confirmed fatality. Two other people suffered major injuries and were airlifted to hospitals, Otterby said.

Three people suffered minor injuries and one person was uninjured, CHP Officer Kevin Bartlett said.

Rescue crews had trouble reaching the crash site, which is only accessible by foot and horseback, he said.

Three medical helicopters were dispatched to the area, he said.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, the San Mateo County Fire Department and other agencies responded to the crash.